Prayer For the Last Day of the Year
O God, our Father, today we are looking back across the year that has passed from us.
There is so much for which we need forgiveness.
For the time we have wasted; for the opportunities we have neglected; for the stress we have given to the wrong things; for all the mistakes we have made; for the burdens we have caused to others.
There are so much for which we ought to give You thanks.
For health and for strength; for protection in the time of danger; for healing in the time of illness; for consolation in the day of sorrow; for daily light and daily encouragement.
Bless those for whom this has been a happy year, and make them give the thanks to You. Bless those for whom this has been a sad year, and help them still to face the future with steady eyes. And help us in the year that has come so to live that at the end of it we shall not only be one year older, but that we shall also be one year nearer You. Amen.
Prayer for the First Day of the Year
O God, ever blessed and eternal! I thank You that today You have allowed me to begin a new year. Here in Your presence I make my resolutions for the days to come.
I resolve:
to be faithful and true to those who love me, and loyal to those who are my friends, so that I may never bring distress to their hearts;
to live in forgiveness and in kindness, that I may go about ever doing good;
to live in goodness and purity, that I may resist temptation and may be a strength to others who are tempted;
to live in sympathy and gentleness, that I may bring comfort to the sorrowing, and understanding to the perplexed;
to live in serenity and self-control, that no anger and no passion may disturb my own peace and the peace of others;
to live in full obedience to You and in Your perfect love, that in doing Your will I may find peace.
O God, our Father, grant me the strength to keep these resolutions all this year: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
